OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has launched a new programme aimed at supporting countries looking to build national AI infrastructure rooted in democratic values.
Announced on 7 May, the initiative—called OpenAI for Countries—will see the San Francisco–based firm partner with governments around the world to help develop local AI capacity, including data centres, language-specific AI models, and public service tools tailored to national needs.
The company says the effort is designed to promote what it calls democratic AI—the development and deployment of artificial intelligence that aligns with long-standing democratic principles such as accountability, privacy, and transparency.
In a statement, OpenAI said:
“We’ve heard from many countries asking for help in building out similar AI infrastructure—that they want their own Stargates and similar projects. It’s clear to everyone now that this kind of infrastructure is going to be the backbone of future economic growth and national development.”
The reference to Stargate points to a major US-based supercomputing project announced in January, developed in partnership with Oracle and SoftBank. The first of those sites is already under construction in Abilene, Texas.
As part of the new international initiative, OpenAI will offer support in establishing in-country data centres—designed to ensure data sovereignty and enable local AI customisation while complying with privacy and safety standards. It will also develop ChatGPT-based tools adapted to regional languages and public service needs, including healthcare, education, and digital governance.
OpenAI said the programme would be co-financed by participating governments and the company itself, with plans to begin work in up to 10 countries or regions during the first phase.
“With local as well as OpenAI capital, together we can seed healthy national AI ecosystems,” the company said, adding that the model would aim to create jobs, new businesses, and digital infrastructure to support both public and private sectors.
The move reflects growing global interest in shaping AI to meet local needs while aligning with international standards. It also reinforces the United States’ push to lead in the deployment of trusted and secure AI systems.
Further announcements on participating countries are expected in the coming months.
